About booting games off a HHD using a Matrix Infinity

[Cyber Akuma]

I have a Version 9/10 PS2 (the fat one) with a Matrix Infinity.

Some of my games have annoying loadtimes. This appears to be a fault of the game itself, not my PS2. Ar Tonelico is a big one that has some annoying pauses in gameplay in order to load.

Since I already have a fat PS2 and all I would need is an official network adapter to attach a HDD to it, I figured I would just start putting the games I play often or have long loadtimes on it.

Now, what I want to know is, I heard the os/bios on the DMS4 includes a type of HDD loader, does the Matrix Infinity have any way to load games like this or would I have to use some sort of bootdisk?

How would I get games to work off my PS2's harddrive with a Matrix Infinity?

I remember hearing about games requiring patches to work on the HDD before with HD Loader, but that product went out of production long ago and is probably outdated now, will I still need to patch my games? Is there a list anywhere of what games and how to patch them?

Will this improve loadtimes? This is the main reason I want to do this.

What is the maximum size harddrive I can use? Would a 500gig one work?

Would enabling/disabling ATAD support (IIRC this makes the PS2 think an unofficial drive is official) cause any problems?

How would I get the games on my harddrive? Is there a way I can just put the disk in the ps2 and copy it over to the harddrive? Thats how I do it on my modded Xbox and the program auto-patches any games that need patching as well.

Would there be any way for me to use GameShark, Action Replay, or Codebreaker with games loaded off my harddrive?

Anything else you think I need to know?

Thanks.

[lufcfan]

I heard the os/bios on the DMS4 includes a type of HDD loader, does the Matrix Infinity have any way to load games like this or would I have to use some sort of bootdisk?
Yes... Use either Dev1 (load HDL onto your Memory Card) or Dev2 (Load HDL onto your HDD) mode and by holding in a simple button (I believe its Triangle if memory serves correctly) it will boot HDL for you automatically - No Boot Disk required.

How would I get games to work off my PS2's harddrive with a Matrix Infinity?
Simply use the Dev1 or Dev2 modes as above to install HDLoader and go from there.

I remember hearing about games requiring patches to work on the HDD before with HD Loader, but that product went out of production long ago and is probably outdated now, will I still need to patch my games? Is there a list anywhere of what games and how to patch them?
Although officially out of production, HDL is still being developed as a free tool. I believe the latest is v0.8C (was formerly 0.7C before it went out of production).

Will this improve loadtimes? This is the main reason I want to do this.Oh yes... Muchos faster ;) http://www.fileforums.com/showthread.php?t=62210

What is the maximum size harddrive I can use? Would a 500gig one work?The sky is the limit with the ATAD Patch enabled in the settings screen (Triangle + Circle held in on boot is used to access these settings).

Would enabling/disabling ATAD support (IIRC this makes the PS2 think an unofficial drive is official) cause any problems?No problems whatsoever... see above.

How would I get the games on my harddrive? Is there a way I can just put the disk in the ps2 and copy it over to the harddrive? Thats how I do it on my modded Xbox and the program auto-patches any games that need patching as well.You would HDL to transfer these games across, or alternatively use one of several utilities to transfer from the PC to the PS2 via the Network Adaptor (quicker).

Would there be any way for me to use GameShark, Action Replay, or Codebreaker with games loaded off my harddrive?I don't believe they copy across, but I could be wrong...

Anything else you think I need to know?Hmm... Just make sure when you buy your HDD you get one which fits onto the network adaptor and has full functionality. A chart with this info to help you pick the best one can be found here: http://ps2drives.x-pec.com/?p=list

Hope that helps...
LUFCfan :)

[Cyber Akuma]

Hmm, seems I confused a few features.

I thought ATAD patch made the harddrive look like it was an official one, not enable past 130 gigs. Is there anything that also lets the PS2 recognize the drive as an official one? There were a few US games that supported it, like FFXI or Resident Evil Outbreak. Would I be able to play FFXI on it? I won't need my old PS2 taking up space anymore if I could.

So I need to use HDLoader to load games off my PS2's harddrive? How will I start HDloader if that's on the harddrive too though?

How do I know what games don't work with HDLoader and what I can do, if anything, about it?

And how exactly would using a Code Breaker or Action Replay (copied to my HDD if possible) work with a game that is already on my HDD as well? I heard about using a program called uLaunch on MMC but I have no idea what those are, are they an alternate type of HDloader? A plugin? What?

I was looking at newegg, and this seems to be their highest recommended 500gig harddrive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148135
Any idea if this one will work? It's not on the PS2 list.

The ONLY one I could find on newegg that was also on the PS2 compability list was this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822147008

Seems the biggest problem with a drive being incompatible is it not fitting with the power/ide connectors on the network adapter. Would it be possible for a drive with the SAME model name having a revision that changes the placement of these? Or will all harddrives of the same model number look physically the same?

Also, how is a game stored once on the HDD? Is it in .iso format? The files dumped onto a directory? Is there a way to get them back to iso format if I ever lose/break my original so I can burn another?

Finally, is there a guide anywhere on how to format the drive, load HDloader on it, transfer PS2 games to it, use gameshark/codebreaker if possible, etc?

Thanks

[Cyber Akuma]

Ok, I got my drive (Segate ST3500641ARK, 500GIGs) and network adapter, and now I have two new problems.

1. As I was putting it in I realized something, I have no caddy/tray for it. While I can still fit it in the slot, I am worried about it coming loose or short-circuiting from the bottom of it coming into contact with the metal bottom of the HDD bay. I checked my official drive and the tray makes it fit peftectly in the slot as well as insulate the bottom of the drive. Where can I get one of these trays, caddies, whatever they are called without buying the entire HDD with it? Is it a risk?

2. I cannot seem to get the HDD utility program to work. I am using version 1.10, and it just hangs on the following screen:
Checking the HDD.
Wait a moment

Yes, the ATAD patch on my MI is enabled, without it the HDD Utility cannot even tell that a harddrive is connected.

Any help?

[jin15]

do not worry about a tray or caddy, it doesnt come loose unles u planning on violently shaking the system.

also what hdd utility are you using? i have used hdadvance[hda] successfully.

once u put the hda cd into the ps2 it will ask u to format the hdd select yes. after it is complete hda is a very simple interface.

[Shadow_Sanctus]

For me the best to format the hd and install the images is WINHIIP
That's the fastest for me... just connect the hdd on your pc through IDE cable or with an external box by USB and use the program... ^_^hehe

[scubasteve]

yeah, winhiip is the best, you can put your ps2 hard drive on your pc by connecting it to where your cd or dvd drive goes so you wont have to unhook your windows hd, and you can easily mod a network adapter by using a torx screwdriver size 3! (took me awhile to find that tool) then youll have it seperated to use on yor ps2, let the madness ensue!

[scubasteve]

ar tornelico runs flawless on it